Silky Terrier

A healthy Silky Terrier typically lives 13-15 years, which is long even for a small dog. The main thing that shortens that span in this breed is diabetes — Silkys are one of the most diabetes-prone breeds, and poorly controlled diabetes drives down both lifespan and quality of life. Keeping the dog lean from puppyhood, feeding measured meals rather than free-feeding, and catching the early signs (excess drinking and urination) is the single biggest lever you have on longevity here.

Better with older children than with toddlers. Silkys are sturdy, playful, and energetic enough to keep up with active kids who throw a ball and respect the dog. The problems come with very young children: the long single coat invites pulling, the dog is small enough to be injured by a drop or a fall, and the terrier temperament will not tolerate rough handling indefinitely. With school-age children who have been taught gentle handling and supervised early on, the breed does well as a family dog.

More than most people expect — this is the breed's hidden cost. The coat is single-layered and hair-like, so it sheds very little but mats within days if not maintained. Plan on brushing and combing to the skin 3-4 times a week, a bath every 2-3 weeks, and a professional groom every 6-10 weeks. If you do not want that commitment, having the coat clipped into a short pet trim is a completely legitimate choice that cuts grooming time and cost dramatically without harming the dog.

Yes. The Silky is an alert, vocal terrier that announces visitors, sounds, and movement at volume, and barking can escalate into a habit if it goes unaddressed or if the dog is under-exercised and bored. This is the most common reason Silkys are surrendered or returned. It is manageable with daily exercise, mental work, and consistent training from puppyhood, but you should not buy this breed if a barky dog is a dealbreaker in your home or building.

They are intelligent and capable but independent and stubborn — a classic terrier combination. They learn commands quickly when motivated with food and play, but they will test inconsistency and negotiate. House-training is moderate; small terriers can be slower than average and benefit from strict crate-and-schedule routines rather than free roaming during the process. Firm, consistent, reward-based training started early works; harsh corrections backfire and make the dog more reactive.

Plan on 45-60 minutes a day split across two sessions, plus mental enrichment. Despite the toy-group label, this is a working terrier and a single short walk will not satisfy it. Two brisk 20-minute walks plus a training or puzzle-toy session keeps the dog physically and mentally settled. Under-exercised Silkys redirect that energy into digging, barking, and destructive chewing — the exercise requirement is not optional, it is the price of a well-behaved dog.